Automatic arcless plug connection



Oct. 2, 192s. 1,686,347

. SCHEUERMANN AUTOMATIC ARCLESS PLUG CONNCTION Filed Aug. 5l, 1925IDI/@n for Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,686,347 PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO SCHEUERMANN, OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC ARCLESS PLUG CONNECTION.

Application led August 31, 1925. Serial No. 53,760.

The invention relates to improvements in the plug circuit. The objectsof the improvement are, first, to secure an absolutely arcless plugconnection; second, to eliminate' the separate operation of a switch;third, to provide at all times currentless plug clips in an unconnectedplug circuit; and'fourth, to provide `a compartment, containing all liveparts in non service condition, accessible for purposes of repair.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing;,in which: Fig.l is a vertical section through the device, mounted in a box or, in aconvenient housing; Fig. 2 shows a bottom view with the housing renoved;Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the The switch base 1 constitutes at thesame time the plug receptacle base. On the underside of this base theentire mechanism of any type of reciprocating switch is mounted,including the switch clips 2, 2, 3, 3 and the switch blades 4, 4', 5,5"; on the upper side of said base, the plug-receptacle clips 6, 6 aremounted and connected through the base byv screws 7, 7 with therespective switch clips 2, 2. If the plug is not inserted thesereceptacle clips 6, 6 are always currentless.

The advantage of thel mounting of the parts on both sides of thebase 1as described is, the creation of two separate compartments after thecombination has been mounted in a convenient housing. The switchcompartment 8 and the plug receptacle compartment 9 can thus be entirelyclosed.

Live wire connections can be `made in the switch compartment only. It isimpossible therefore to touch any current carrylng part, except inrepair cases, when the cover 10 on which the complete vcombination ismounted must be removed. To do away with the separate switch operation,it is proposed to operate the switch by inserting or extracting thespring. The groove is lined with metal to lessen the friction.

If any plug connection is desired one simply pushes the plug in asusual. Before engaglng the steep thread extension 12 with the nut 14,the plu blades19, are already in contact with the p ug clips 6, 6. Aftermoving the plug approximately 2/3 of the thread extensions length (whichcorresponds to approximately a 90 turn of the switch arbor 20) theswitch will snap on and connect the plug circuit. The last third of theextension is easily passed by the plug, as no appreciable tensioning ofthe spring is necessary, and as the natural impulse is to move the pluguntil it is stopped at the base 1.

Having pushed the plug all the way in the nut will engage a smallcircular groove 2l and will be released, allowing the switch arbor 20 tomove back again into the neutralposition where the switch spring 21 isfree of tension. In pulling out the plug, the action of the combinationis reversed. At of the extension on the upward motion, the switch snapsoff and opens the plug circuit, before the plug blades 19 leave the plugclips 6, 6

The plug then can be taken out without any...

sparking eect at the contact clips. From the above 'description theoperation of my device will be entirely clearwithout furtherexplanation.

It will be understood, that I do not limit myself to the exact detailsofconstruction shown and described but various modifications might beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an-automatic arcless plug connection including a housing, a basein said housing separating the same into two compartments, plugrecelving clips mounted in one of said compartments on onev side of saidbase, and switch blades and clips in the other of lsaid compartments onthe opposite side of said base, means extending through the baseconnecting the plug clips and the switch clips, means for allowing themaking of'live wire connections in the part of said housing containingthe switchmechanism only, a means for operatingthe switch by theinsertion of a plug, and a means for positively guiding the plug.

2. a housing, a base in said housing dividing the. same into twoseparateadjoining compart- In an automatic arcless plug connection,

ments, a cover for said housing, plug clips in one of said compartmentson one side of said base, adapted to be engaged by thel plug bladesbefore the engagement with the switch, a switch means in the other ofsaid compartments, a switch stem, and an extension therefor havin asteep thread and a circular groove, a apte-d to be received in saidplug, a nut on said plug adapted to engage with the steep thread on saidextension to change the linear plug movement into a rotary one, said nutadapted to be released upon the engagement of the circular groove.

3. In an automatic arcless plug connection, the combination of a housinhaving a cover and a nose on the Same, wit a plug having an inner grooveadapted to be engaged by said nose for guiding said plug, a base dividing said housing into two separate compartments, plug connections andcontacts in one of said compartments, and switch connections andcontacts in the other compartment, connections passing through said basefor connecting the plug contacts and the switch contacts, said switch adouble-pole switch, a switch stem, an extension therefor having a threadand a circular groove, a nut on said plug adapted to engage the threadon said extension to change the linear plug movement into a rotary oneand positively guiding said plug, said nut and plug adapted to bedisengaged from said stem upon the engagement of said nut with thecircular groove.

v Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 1st day of June, A. D. 1925.

o'rTo SOHEUERMANN.

